Storage bins



March 5, 1957 D. A. WALLANCE 2,784,047

STORAGE BINS Filed Jan. 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Damn/4.Mun cs ATTOMEK March 5, 1957 D. A. WALLANCE 2,784,047

STORAGE BINS Filed Jan. 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1: INVENTOR.

2 .92 Down: A. Mun/vat:

IIITOPNEV United tates Patent STORAGE BINS Donald A. Wallance,Croton-on-Hudson, N. Y., assignor to Emco Porcelain Enamel C0,, Inc.,Port Chester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 15,1953, Serial No. 331,394

1 Claim. (Cl. 312-328) The present invention relates generally tostorage bins, and is particularly directed to an assembly of severalstorage bins for holding loose or comminuted articles, such as, forexample, flour, sugar, rice, spices and the like, or small hardwareitems.

An object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of severalstorage bins which are mounted in a common housing for individualmovement between a closed position and an open position, and whereineach bin is conveniently removable bodily from the housing independentlyof the other bins of the assembly.

Another object is to provide an assembly of the described characterwherein the bins are rockably supported in the housing for swingingmovement by manual actuation between the closed and open positions, andwherein the rocking axis of each bin is located so that the weight ofthe bin and its contents tends to maintain the bin in either its open orclosed position. Another object is to provide an assembly of the described character wherein the several bins and the common housing areformed to limit the swinging movement of each bin to the angular rangebetween the open and closed positions thereof.

A further object is to provide an assembly of the described characterwherein the several bins and the housing are formed to prevent bodilyremoval of the bins from the housing when the bins are in either theiropen or closed positions and to permit such bodily removal of each binfrom the housing only when the bin is in an intermediate rocked positionbetween the open and closed positions.

A still further object is to provide a housing and bin assembly havingthe foregoing advantages and features and which is capable of relativelylow cost production without sacrificing durability or reliability ofoperation.

In accordance with the present invention the above mentioned objects,and other objects, features and advantages appearing hereinafter, areachieved by providing an assembly which includes a rectangular orboxlike housing open at the front and several box-like bins open at thetop-andadapted to be received in side-byside arrangement within thehousing. The assembly is provided with means for rockably supporting thebins within the housing and such means includes a support elementextending along the lower edge of the front opening of the housing and acooperating element extending transversely across the bottom of each binadjacent the front of the latter and rockably seated on the supportelement of the housing. The cooperating elements constituting therockable supporting means for the bins are formed to be separable onlywhen the bin and its element are raised bodily within the housing. Thefront walls of the bins project above the top edges of the side walls ofthe bins and engage against the front face of the housing above thefront opening to limit the swinging movement of the bins in thedirection enclosing the bins within the housing. The top edges of theside walls of each bin are straight and incline downwardly from thefront to the back so that little clearance is provided between the topedges and the upper edge of the front opening when the bin is in itsclosed position or fully enclosed within the housing, and the rearportions of the top edges of the bin side walls contact the upper edgeof the opening at the front of the housing when the bin has been rockedto an open position in which substantially the entire open top of thebin is exposed in front of the housing so that such contact limits therocking of the bin in the direction toward the open position. Thus, theclose proximity of the upper edge of the front hon-sing opening and thetop edges of the bin side walls in the open and closed positions of thebin prevents the raising of the latter and separation of the cooperatingelements forming the rockable support when the bin is in its open orclosed positions. However, when the bin is in an intermediate position,'between its open and closed positions, a relatively large clearance isobtained between the top edges of the bin side walls and the upper edgeof the front housing opening so that the bin can then be raised toseparate the elements of the rockable support and withdrawn forwardlyfrom the housing.

In order that the present invention may be fully understood,illustrative embodiments thereof are hereinafter described in detail andshown in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a bin and housing assemblyconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the linc 2-2 of Fig. land on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a vertical. sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but with the binshown in its fully open position and in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the bin shown in anintermediate open position for removal from the housing;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a bin removed from the housing andon the same scale as Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to a portion ofFig. 2, but showing a rockable support for the bin constructed inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Figs. 1 to 5thereof, a bin and housing assembly embodying the present invention isthere illustrated and identified generally by the reference numeral 10.The assembly 10 includes a housing 11 of generally rectangular configuration and formed of sheet metal or any other suitably rigidmaterial. The housing 11 has a top wall 12, a bottom wall 13, a rearwall 14 and opposite end or side walls 15 and 16, and is open at thefront. The front edges of the end walls 15 and 16 are preferably bentinwardly toward each other and then reverted rearwardly to frame thesides of the front opening, as at 17 (Fig. 1). The front edge of the topwall 12 is bent downwardly, as at 18, to frame the upper edge of theopening at the front of housing 11, and a rearwardly directed flange 19extends from the lower edge of the downwardly bent portion 13 andterminates in a depend ing flange 20 which forms a stop for defining theclosed positions of bins in the manner hereinafter described in detailsThe assembly It) includes several bins 21a, 21b, 21c and Zld which areof the same general construction, although the widths thereof may varyas shown, and are dimensioned to fit into the housing 11 in side-byniderelationship through the opening at the front of the housing. While-theillustrated embodiment of the in vention contains four bins, it is to beunderstood that the number of bins maybe increased or decreased asdesired with the length of the housing being. varied to accommodate thenumber of bins included in the assembly.

Each ofv the bins. 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d. includes a bottom wall 22,. afront wall 23, a. rear wall 24. and opposite side walls. 25' and 26which arejoined together to provide a box-like container open. at thetop. The front wall 23 of each bin is greater in. height. than the rearwall. 24. thereof, and the top edges. 27 and 28 of the side walls' 25and 26, respectively,, of each bin are straight and incline downwardlyfrom the front wall to the rear wall. The upper edge portion of thefront wall 23 projects slightly above the: topedges 2.7 and 28 of theside walls of the related bin, asat 29, for engagement against thedepending flange 29- framingthe upper edge" of the opening at the frontof the housing (Fig. 2)

In order to rockably support the several bins within the housing 11-,each ofv the bins. and the housing are provided with rockably engageableelements. which are. sepable only by raising: the bin within thehousing, Inthe embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to therockable supporting; elements. include a. substantially V-shaped channel39 mounted above, and extending along, the front edge of the bottom.wall 13 of. the housing and framing the lower edge. ofthe front openingof the housing. In order to support: the. V-shaped channel 30 above thefront edge of bottom wall 13, the latter is formed with an upstandingflange 31 to which is secured, by spot-welding or other suitable means,a flange 32 depending from the edge of the forward leg of the channel30. Each of the bins of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 is provided withan angle member 33 extending transversely across, and secured to, thebottom wall 22 of the bin adjacent the front of the latter. Thus, thedownwardly directed leg of the angle member 33 can seatupon the channel30,. at the juncture of the converging legs of the latter, and the binmay be rocked about the axis defined by the lower edge of the downwardlydirected leg of member 33 between a. closed position (Fig. 2) enclosedwithin the housing 11, and a fully open position (Fig. 3) in whichsubstantially the entire open. top of the bin is exposed in front of thehousing.

As seen in Fig. 2, the various parts of the housing; and bin aredimensioned so that, when the front wall 23 of the bin is substantiallyvertical, the projecting upper edge portion 29 of the front wall of thebin bears rearwardly against the flange of the housing and theengagement of the portion 29 and flange 20 limits the swinging of thebin in the direction into the housing and establishes the closedposition of the bin. Since the angle: member 33 is located well forwardof the center of bottom Wall 22 of the bin, the center of gravity of thebin and its contents is disposed in back of the rocking axis of the binwhen the latter is in its closed position (Fig. 2),

and the weight of the bin and its contentsv tends to rock the bin in thedirection into the. housing to automatically maintain the bin in itsclosed. position: with the edge portion 29 bearing against: thev flange.20-.

As seen in Fig. 2, the bin side walls are dimensioned so that only asmall clearanceis provided between the lower edge of the flange 20 andthe confronting portions of the top edges 27 and 28 of the bin sidewalls when the bin is inits closed position. That is, the radialdistance Dz (Fig. 3), from the rocking axis-to the lower edge of flange20 is only slightly greater than the: radial distance Dr (Fig. 2), fromthe rockingaxis to the front end of each of the top edges 27 and 28 ofthe bin side walls. Thus, the close proximity of the lower edge offlange 20 and the confronting portions of the top edges 27 and 28prevents raising of the bin when it is in it'sv closed position withinthe housing (Fig. 2'). Since the downwardly directed leg of the anglemember 33 can be. freed from the: f-shaped. channel only" when the binhas been raised sufficiently so that the lower edge of the member 33 is.above the. upper or front. edge of 4 the forward leg of the channel 30,it is apparent that the bin cannot be removed bodily from the housingwhen the bin is in the closed position of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will be seen that the radialdistance D3 from the rocking axis to the rear ends of the top edges 27and 28 of the bin side walls is slightly greater than the radialdistance D2 so that, when the bin has: been rockedforwardly or out ofthe housing to its open position (Fig. 3), the rear portions of the topedges 27' and" 28 engage the lower edge of the flange 20, as at 3,4, to.prevent further rocking of the bin in the direction out of the housing.Thus, the engagement: of the top edges. 27 and: 28 of. the. bin sideWalls with the lower edge of the housing flange 20 establishes thefullyopen' position of each bin and, in this open position, the open topof the bin is exposed to provide access to the contents of the bin.Further, while the angle member 33. is disposed adjacent to the frontof. the bin, it is to be noted that the member 33 is spaced a sufficientdistance from the front edge of the bin bottom wall 22 so that, withthe. bin in itsv open position, the center of gravity of the bin andits. contents will be disposed in. front. of the vertical planeextending through the. rocking axis oi the bin. Thus, the weight of thebinand its contents tends to maintain the bin. in its open position(Fig. 3) after the. bin has been. manually rocked to the open: position.Since the top edges 27 and 28 of the bin side Walls engage. the loweredge of the housing flange 20 when. the bin is in its open. position, itis apparent that. the bin cannot then be raised to free the angle member33 from the channel 30 and bodily? removal of the bin from the. housingis prevented.

In order to facilitate rockingof the. bins between their open and closedpositions, each bin is-preferably pro.- vided with aknob 35. extending;from the. front. wall 23 adjacent the top of the latter. Further, eachbin. has an anglemember 36 extending transversely across, and secured.to, the. bottom wall 22 oi the bin adjacent thev rear edge of thelatter, and the downwardly extending leg of the. angle member 36 ispreferably of the same height as the. downwardly directedv legof. theanglemember, 33 so that, when1 the bin is removed bodily from thehousing 11, itmay be. placed upon a support surface and is held levelby'the angle members-33 andv 36, as. shown in Fig. 5.

In order to. remove the bin from the housing 11, the bin is rocked to anintermediate position between. the open and closed positions, as shownin Fig, 4. In this intermediate. position, the top edges 27- and 28 ofthe bin side walls are substantially horizontal, and a relatively largeclearancev D4. is obtained between the topedges 27 and 28 and the: loweredge, of the housing flange 20.

. The relatively large clearance D4 results from the fact that the topedges 27 and 28' are straight and, therefore, the radial distances. fromthe rocking axis of the bin to intermediate points on. the top edges,for example, the distance D5 (Fig. 4),. are smaller than, they distancesD1 and D3 tothe front and. back. ends, respectively, of the top edges.Thus, when intermediate points on the top edges 27 and: 28 confront thelower edge. of flange 20, for example, when. the bin is in theintermediate position of Fig. 4, the radial distance D5 from the rockingaxis to such points is substantially smaller than the radial distance.-Dz. (Fig. 3.) from the rocking axis to the lower edge of flange 20, andthe relatively; large clearance D4 is obtained.

The parts of the. assembly are dimensioned so that the clearance D4,obtained with the bin: in. an intermediate rocked position (Fig. 4.'),is greater than the d1stance that the. bin. must be: raisedtofree itsangle member 33v from the channel. 30. That is, the, distance D4 isgreater than the vertical elevation of the forward leg ot the V-shapedchannel 30.. Thus; the bincan be raised, as. shown in broken lines andindicated by the: reference character 21a on Fig. 4, and then withdrawnfrom the housing with the lower edge of the downwardly directed leg ofangle member 33 passing over the upper edge of the forward leg ofchannel 30. As seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the rear leg of the channel 30extends above the upper edge of the forward leg of that channel so that,when a bin is being inserted in the housing 11, the downwardly directedleg of the angle member 33 strikes against the higher rear leg of thechannel 30 to ensure that the angle member 33 seats on the channel. Ininserting a bin in the housing, the bin is disposed with the top edges27 and 28 of the side walls extending substantially horizontally, andthe bin is moved horizontally into the housing until the angle member 33contacts the rear leg of the channel 36 Then, the bin is released orlowered so that the angle member 33 seats on the channel 33 and the binis pivotally or rockably supported on the latter. 'Finally, the bin isrocked to its closed position (Fig. 2).

In Fig. 6, a modified construction for rockably supporting the bins isdisclosed. This modified construction includes a downwardly opening orfacing channel, generally identified by the reference numeral 37,extending transversely across and secured to the bottom wall 22 of eachof the bins at a location adjacent the front of the latter, and anelongated member 38 secured to the upturned fiange 31 at the front edgeof the bottom wall 13 of the housing 11. The elongated member 38 isturned or rolled downwardly at its upper edge, and the channels 37 ofthe bins receive the rolled upper edge of the member 38 and are rockablysupported on the latter. While Fig. 6 illustrates only the details ofthe modified rockable support construction, it is to be understood thatthe bins and housing using this modified construction are otherwise thesame as the bins and housing described in connection with the embodimentof Figs. 1 to 5. It is apparent that the channels 37 can be freed orseparated from the member 38 only when the related bin has been raisedin the housing a distance greater than the height of the rear dependingleg 39 of the channel 37, and that the bin can be raised for thispurpose only when it is in an intermediate open position correspondingto the position shown in Fig. 4. Further, it will be seen that the frontdepending leg 40 of the channel 37 extends below the lower edge of theleg 39 so that, when the bin is being installed in the housing, the leg39 can pass over the rolled upper edge of the member 38 and the leg 40strikes against the rolled upper edge to ensure that the channel 37seats upon the member 38.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the bins of an assemblyembodying the present invention can be individually rocked between openand closed positions, or removed bodily from the housing. Thus, thecontents of the bins may be removed at the site of the housing, or theindividual bins may be removed from the housing and transported to amore convenient location for either using or replenishing the contents.Further, the present invention provides the above advantages withoutundue complication of the housing or bin construction, and removal orinstallation of the bins is achieved merely by the describedmanipulation thereof and without requiring the loosening or securing offastening members.

While I have described and shown certain illustrative embodiments of theinvention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothese precise embodiments, and that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claim.

What 'I claim is:

An assembly of the described character comprising a housing having arectangular opening at the front thereof, a plurality of bins formed tofit into said hous-' ing in side-by-side relationship through saidopening at the front of the housing, cooperating fulcrum means forrockably supporting the individual bins within said housing andincluding an upwardly opening channel member extending along the loweredge of said opening near the front of the housing and an angle memberon the bottom of each bin near the front of the latter and having adownwardly directed leg bearing at its lower edge on said channelmember, said bins being individually swingable between a closed positionwithin said housing and an open position in which the top of the bin isexposed in front of the housing, each of said bins being open at the topso that in its open position access is provided to the interior of thebin, said channel member and angle members being separable by raising ofthe related bins within said housing, means on said housing and each ofsaid bins operative to prevent raising of the bin when the latter isdisposed in either of said open and closed positions thereof, saidchannel member having front and back legs converging downwardly, andmeans for preventing undesired bodily movement of the bins into thehousing including an edge portion of said back leg of the channel memberextending above said front leg of the latter to engage said downwardlydirected leg of the angle member and prevent movement of the latterbeyond sad channel member in a direction toward the rear of saidhousing, the radial distance between said fulcrum axis and the centralportions of the top edges of the side walls being smaller than theradial distance between said fulcrum axis and the upper edge of the binopening by an amount smaller than the vertical overlapping of said firstand second fulcrum members at one side of the fulcrum axis and largerthan the vertical overlapping of said first and second fulcrum membersat the other side of the fulcrum axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS260,739 Bradish July 11, 1882 550,900 Walker Dec. 3, 1895 892,830 HobbsJuly 7, 1908 1,009,977- Kirkaldie Nov. 28, 1911 1,447,360 Swan Mar. 6,1923

